Record heat remains, fire threat diminishes

Robert Krier

SAN DIEGO – The threat of wildfires is diminishing, but the heat is hanging around after breaking records again Thursday.

The National Weather Service has dropped its red-flag warning for extreme fire danger in the county because the winds have died down. But forecasters and firefighters caution residents that conditions will still be dangerous.

“The backcountry brush is still very dry,” said Cal Fire Capt. Darryl Pina. “And it's still going to be in the triple digits.”

Pina advises county residents to do yard work before 10 a.m. both to avoid heat-related injuries and to reduce the risk of igniting fires.

Thursday, the Wild Animal Park reached 106, breaking the record of 103 set in 1991. El Cajon snapped the record of 100 degrees set in 2001 with a high of 102. Santee and Ramona hit 101, and Poway and Miramar peaked at 100. Lindbergh Field, San Diego's official weather station, had a high of 84.

Inland communities can expect to be near or above 100 degrees again Friday, and temperatures Saturday and Sunday should be in the mid- to high 90s.

The beaches should be back in the mid-80s to low 90s Friday. Some patchy low clouds and fog could creep back Friday night and Saturday morning, National Weather Service forecaster Noel Isla said.

The clouds could provide a cool break for participants in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot's annual Boot Camp Challenge at 9 a.m. Saturday. The challenge is a 3-mile run through the grounds where Marines train.

Temperatures throughout the county are expected to remain above normal until Tuesday, then drop below normal for the first time in more than a week on Wednesday.